Has Argentina Become Worse Or Better for Foreign Retirees recently?

[on the brink]

depends on where you are from, what your other options are, how much money you have, and what you want.
There are absolutely people still retiring here-
and their particular circumstances make the decision.
for me, its still much cheaper than the USA, but everybody has different situations.

For me, it is not cheaper than living in the US but still much preferable. I'm fortunate in having other options, but choose Argentina for its people.

 

[sergio]

For me, it is not cheaper than living in the US but still much preferable. I'm fortunate in having other options, but choose Argentina for its people.

For a lot of retirees COL is the major consideration in choosing to live abroad. Those lucky enough to have lots of money can choose a foreign destination based on other considerations.

 

[zensailor]

For a lot of retirees COL is the major consideration in choosing to live abroad. Those lucky enough to have lots of money can choose a foreign destination based on other considerations.

It' not a matter of having "lots of money" .... quality of life is a more significant consideration ...

 

[steveinbsas]

Retirees from USA cannot use Medicare; UK retirees will have no NHS. How much will health insurance alone cost for someone over 65? Over 70? Will insurance companies even insure them?

Opting out of Medicare part B should free up about $300.000 pesos per month for US retirees over 65. I'm over 75 and I haven't had health insurance in Argentina for more than ten years. My health care costs, including medications are close to zero. I recently replaced my oximeter and blood pressure tester ($30.000 for both delivered to the house with free shipping) so I wouldn't have to " drop by" the local clinic on any Monday or Tuesday morning (no appointment necessary) to have them checked without cost, as I prefer to check them whenever I want.

PS: The only medication I take is one "low dose" of aspirin per day as an anti clotting measure.

 

[sergio]

Opting out of Medicare part B should free up about $300.000 pesos per month for US retirees over 65. I'm over 75 and I haven't had health insurance in Argentina for more than ten years. My health care costs, including medications are close to zero. I recently replaced my oximeter and blood pressure tester ($30.000 for both delivered to the house with free shipping) so I wouldn't have to " drop by" the local clinic on any Monday or Tuesday morning (no appointment necessary) to have them checked without cost, as I prefer to check them whenever I want.

PS: The only medication I take is one "low dose" of aspirin per day as an anti clotting measure.

Not having health insurance may work for some people but I doubt many will want the risk. Will health care companies even insure someone 65+ or perhaps older? And at what price? By contrast, I understand that in Spain, France and some other European countries good health insurance can be obtained after a year or so of residence. And living away from capital cities life is much more affordable. There are places in Europe with higher quality of life and easily accessible to many attractions on a highly developed railway system. For some Argentina may still be a good retirement destination -and of course it is difficult to uproot one's self after settling down in a place - but for anyone currently looking for a retirement destination Argentina would seem to have lost most of the luster of even a couple of years ago,

 

[sergio]

It' not a matter of having "lots of money" .... quality of life is a more significant consideration ...

Precisely. See my comments above. Quality of life cannot be had without adequate funds. Argentina has changed significantly in the past couple of years.

 

[SlowWalker]

Sergio, seems like no matter what anyone says you want to shut them down.

Argentina offers:
1) People are active and social and are extremely good nature from my experience. Whether you want to be more of a hermit, or live a vibrant social life is up to you.
2) equal or lower cost of living than in North America.
a) if you are from a place where housing is expensive, the it is likely to be lower cost in Argentina.

Going to restaurants became more expensive, but rent, utilities, food to eat at home are cheaper.
There is also more to the country than just Buenos Aires.

3) The weather is quite good.
4) It is well insulated from all the politics, war and everything else going on in the world.
5) The cities and culture are designed and functional for a nice balance and quality of life. I don't know where you are from, but to have parks, plazas, third party spaces where you can go and hang out alone or with friends is pretty nice.
6) The landscape of the country is gorgeous. If you enjoy road trips, traveling, camping etc there is a fair bit to explore. And extending travel to Brazil, Chile and other parts of South America is not difficult.
7) From my experience Health Care is very good, responsive, available etc here compared to other places and great coverage with insurance. Without insurance it may or may not cost more depending on what your needs are. But without a local insurance, you can still get your global or regional insurance that should still be cheaper than in the US (not sure the difference it will offer vs medicare/medicaid).
8) Others may disagree, but I see an economy that is improving, and some of the things that were expensive are becoming relatively less so with changes in policy. So the future in my opinion looks more promising here, than it does in many other parts of the world.


Like others have said, its not just the dollars, but quality of life etc. But even if it was dollars, if you really had to live on the basics, I don't know the details of social security, but I would find it hard to believe that it couldn't stretch to cover, considering how Argentinians are able to make it (health insurance being the one exception, unless/until permanent residency is attained if you decided to make Argentina a permanent home). So again it comes down to individual selection.

 

[sergio]

Sergio, seems like no matter what anyone says you want to shut them down.

Argentina offers:
1) People are active and social and are extremely good nature from my experience. Whether you want to be more of a hermit, or live a vibrant social life is up to you.
2) equal or lower cost of living than in North America.
a) if you are from a place where housing is expensive, the it is likely to be lower cost in Argentina.

Going to restaurants became more expensive, but rent, utilities, food to eat at home are cheaper.
There is also more to the country than just Buenos Aires.

3) The weather is quite good.
4) It is well insulated from all the politics, war and everything else going on in the world.
5) The cities and culture are designed and functional for a nice balance and quality of life. I don't know where you are from, but to have parks, plazas, third party spaces where you can go and hang out alone or with friends is pretty nice.
6) The landscape of the country is gorgeous. If you enjoy road trips, traveling, camping etc there is a fair bit to explore. And extending travel to Brazil, Chile and other parts of South America is not difficult.
7) From my experience Health Care is very good, responsive, available etc here compared to other places and great coverage with insurance. Without insurance it may or may not cost more depending on what your needs are. But without a local insurance, you can still get your global or regional insurance that should still be cheaper than in the US (not sure the difference it will offer vs medicare/medicaid).
8) Others may disagree, but I see an economy that is improving, and some of the things that were expensive are becoming relatively less so with changes in policy. So the future in my opinion looks more promising here, than it does in many other parts of the world.


Like others have said, its not just the dollars, but quality of life etc. But even if it was dollars, if you really had to live on the basics, I don't know the details of social security, but I would find it hard to believe that it couldn't stretch to cover, considering how Argentinians are able to make it (health insurance being the one exception, unless/until permanent residency is attained if you decided to make Argentina a permanent home). So again it comes down to individual selection.

Shut down? How so? Does a difference of opinion equate shutting down?

 

[Ries]

I have had several US friends move to portugal in the last few years.
Up front costs to get legal residency varies from $10,000 usd plus proof of 11000 euros per year income for a visa, to 500,000 euros for investment residency. Most of my friends sold US homes, and wanted the security of home ownership, and that costs a lot.
If you have eu passport then Europe, depending on where, could be less, or more, than Argentina. But for US residents, Argentina residency is still cheaper.
I have been living here part time since 2007 because I love Argentina, not because of prices. I have no interest, at 70, of becoming nomadic chasing cheap countries.
My health insurance cost alone, before I became eligible for Medicare, was more than my entire cost of living in Buenos Aires.
Obviously everyone has different circumstances, but compared to the Pacific Northwest, BA is cheaper, and Rosario or Tucuman or similar cities half of BA.

 

[sergio]

I have had several US friends move to portugal in the last few years.
Up front costs to get legal residency varies from $10,000 usd plus proof of 11000 euros per year income for a visa, to 500,000 euros for investment residency. Most of my friends sold US homes, and wanted the security of home ownership, and that costs a lot.
If you have eu passport then Europe, depending on where, could be less, or more, than Argentina. But for US residents, Argentina residency is still cheaper.
I have been living here part time since 2007 because I love Argentina, not because of prices. I have no interest, at 70, of becoming nomadic chasing cheap countries.
My health insurance cost alone, before I became eligible for Medicare, was more than my entire cost of living in Buenos Aires.
Obviously everyone has different circumstances, but compared to the Pacific Northwest, BA is cheaper, and Rosario or Tucuman or similar cities half of BA.

So far no-one has answered my question: How much does health insurance cost for someone 65+? Or over 70. And is it even available for someone that age who is applying for the first time?

I believe you are exaggerating the requirements for a Portuguese retirement visa (we were talking about someone retiring, not investing). This is what I found and it supports what I have read elsewhere:

• Passive Income: Evidence of consistent, recurring income (pensions, investments, property rentals).
• Minimum Income (2025): €870/month (€10,440/year) for the main applicant.

Doesn't Argentina now require even higher monthly income? I thought it was U$S 2,000.

I am glad that you find Argentina a virtual paradise but let's be objective in offering advice to people who are considering uprooting themselves.

There is also the issue of whether those unhappy with the government in the USA want to move somewhere so deeply aligned to the current USA government.